Natur og religion i Petter Dass sin diktning. Økokritisk lesning av eldre litteratur.

Denne oppgaven omhandler en studie av Petter Dass (1647-1707). Jeg har valgt to ulike dikt av samme forfatter for å undersøke om religion og natur har lik eller ulik betydning. Hans dikt kan dermed brukes både i norskfaget og i KRLE, og i skolens tverrfaglige tema som bærekraftig utvikling, demokrati og medborgerskap og helse og livsmestring. Jeg analyserer og drøfter om Petter Dass formidling i det religiøse diktet "Den Første Sang" under "Den Apostoliske Troes Article. Forfattede i Tolv Sange" stemmer overens med hans natursyn i det topografiske diktverket Nordland´s Trompet. Det vil si om hans grunnleggende natursyn og erfaring er i overensstemmelse med hans religiøse undervisning og hans livssyn. Jeg finner i analysen at Dass sin religion og livssyn influerer på hans menneske og samfunnssyn, men at han i forhold til naturen er både pragmatisk og moderne i spørsmål som har med naturfenomener og moderne naturvitenskap. Derfor underordnes ikke naturen religionen på en entydig måte i hans diktning. Bibelen gir ham livssyn, men når det gjelder naturen er han en moderne tenker opptatt av erfaring og verifiserbar kunnskap. Det viser hans beskrivelse av malstrømmen i Nordland`s Trompet. Der ordet "Vey" betyr en konkret vei eller retning i Nordland`s Trompet, mener han med det samme ordet "Guds vei" i katekismesangen "Den Første Sang". "Himmel" i det religiøse diktet er ikked et samme som "Himmel, stjerner, sol og måne" i det topografiske. Det religiøse og det topografiske diktet bruker derfor samme ord, men med forskjellig betydning, ifølge min konklusjon.This thesis deals with a study of Petter Dass (1647-1707). I have chosen two different poems by the same author to investigate whether religion and nature have similiar or different meanings. His poems can be relevant both in the Norwegian subject and in KRLE, and in the school´s interdisciplinary topics such as sustainable development, democracy and citizenship, and health and life skills. I analyze and discuss about Petter Dass´ dissemination in the religious poem "The First Song" under "The Apostolic Faith Article. Authored in Twelve Songs" is consistent with his view of nature in the topographical poem Nordland`s Trumpet. That is, whether his basic views of nature and experience are consistent with his religious teachings and his beliefs. I find in the analysis that Dass`s religion and worldview influence his man and social views, but that in relation to nature he is both pragmatic and modern in questions related to natural phenomena and modern science. Therefore, nature is not subordinate to religion in his poetry. The Bible gives him a view of life, but when it comes to nature, he is a modern thinker concerned with experience and verifiable knowledge. His modernity shows in his description of the maelstrom in Nordland`s Trumpet. Where the Norwegian word "Vey" means a concrete path or direction in Nordland`s Trumpet, he means by the same word "God`s way" in the catechism song "The First Song". The "Sky" in the religious poem is not the same as "Sky, stars, sun and moon" in the topographic. The religious and topographical poems therefore use the same words, but with different meanings, according to my conclusion

High Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms among Particleboard Workers in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Work in the wood industry might be associated with respiratory health problems. The production of particleboard used for furniture making and construction is increasing in many countries, and cause dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde exposure of the workers. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to measure lung function among Ethiopian particleboard workers using Eucalyptus trees as the raw material. In total 147 workers, 74 from particleboard production and 73 controls, participated in the study. Mean wood dust in the particleboard factories was measured to be above recommended limit values. Particleboard workers had a mean age of 28 years and the controls were 25 years. They had been working for 4 and 2 years, respectively. Lung function test was done using spirometry following American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommendations. Respiratory symptoms were collected using a standard questionnaire of ATS. Particleboard workers had higher prevalence of wheezing, cough, cough with sputum production, phlegm, and shortness of breath compared to controls. Lung function status was similar in the two groups. The symptoms might be related to the work in the factories. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore the chronic impact of work in particleboard factories on respiratory health.publishedVersio

How Has Living with Intimate Partner Violence Affected the Work Situation? A Qualitative Study among Abused Women in Norway

A qualitative study was conducted among 18 abused women from different parts of Norway to explore what paid work means for women exposed to partner violence and how living with an abusive partner affected their working life. Based on systematic text condensation analyses of their experiences as described in individual and focus group interviews, the study’s findings reveal two major themes. The first is about recovery and survival, and the other about the spillover of problems caused by a violent partner into paid work. Work was important to the women, as it represented time off from violence, contact with others who cared for them, and maintenance of self-esteem and self-confidence. Having their own money provided security and strengthened the belief that they could manage on their own. The spillover of intimate partner violence problems appeared through feelings of fear, shame and guilt at work.publishedVersio

Shift work and age in the offshore petroleum industry

Background. Shift work is associated with sleep and health problems. Tolerance to shift work is reported to decrease with age. Shift work tolerance should be considered in different shift work populations. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between age, shift work exposure, shift type, and morningness and sleep/health problems in oil rig shift workers. Material and methods. A total of 199 workers participated. They worked either two weeks of 12-h day shifts (n = 96) or two weeks of swing shifts (n = 103) (one week of 12-h night shifts followed by one week of 12-h day shifts), followed by four weeks off work. The workers filled out questionnaires on demographics, work, sleep, and health. Results. We found no significant associations between age or years of shift work exposure and any of the sleep, sleepiness, or health parameters. There was a significant association between shift type and sleep duration, showing that swing shift workers had longer sleep duration than day shift workers. In addition, we found a significant association between the interaction age*, shift type, and sleep duration, where sleep duration was negatively associated with age for the swing shift workers and positively associated with age for the day shift workers. There were significant associations between morningness and sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and insomnia. Conclusions. Older workers may tolerate shift work well. Age, shift work exposure time, and shift type seemed not to affect shift work tolerance in this population. However, this may be due to a healthy worker effect and/or selection bias.publishedVersio

Poor provision of sanitary facilities in markets of lusaka district Zambia

Background: Although provision of sanitary facilities in workplaces is an important issue, very few studies have been undertaken in this regard. Objective: This study assessed the provision of sanitary facilities for market traders and their perceptions of the provided facilities in Lusaka district Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of workplace observations in 12 randomly selected markets and interviews with 386 traders, conducted in Lusaka district. Findings: The study revealed that eleven of the twelve markets provided toilets, hand-washing and drying facilities, water, urinals, soap, and toilet paper. However, most of the markets did not comply with the Zambian laws in terms of the adequacy and privacy of facilities. One market did not have any of the listed facilities. Most traders perceived facilities to be unsatisfactory and used them only because of the lack of alternatives. Poor provision of sanitary facilities was observed at markets thus predisposing its workforce and trading population to multiple public health hazards. Conclusions: The findings of this study call for urgent investments in sanitary structures and surveillance systems to guarantee the safety of the population and to promote the health of market traders as well as the community at large.publishedVersio

A survey of occupational health in The Royal Norwegian Navy

Objective. The aim of this article is to describe possible risk factors in the work environment that can affect the health of staff of the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN). The article presents the main results from a subproject related to a major surveillance of the health and work environment in this population. The project was performed as a response to general concerns regarding harmful work environment and negative health effects for these employees. Participants and methods. In 2002, a questionnaire was sent out to all the employees in RNoN, and they answered during a period of three months. The overall response rate was 58% (n=2265), 2001 men and 250 women (14 unknown sex). 1581 military employees and 580 civilians participated (104 unknown). Mean age was 38 (range 18-70). Questions about years at work, exposure to chemical, physical and ergonomic hazards were developed for this particular study. Questions about allergy, asthma, hand eczema, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer were asked. Musculoskeletal disorders were obtained by a standardized instrument. Results. Exposure to noise, heavy lifting, twisted work positions and work close to antennas and communication equipment occurred often in this population. The most commonly reported diseases that might be work related were hand eczema, hearing loss and low back pain. Conclusions. The results indicate the presence of several possible risk factors to health related to the work environment in this population. The project gives a basis for further action regarding the Health Safety and Environment work within RNoN.publishedVersio

Respiratory health among hand pickers in primary coffee processing factories of Ethiopia

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function among female hand pickers. Methods: A total of 374 hand pickers exposed to coffee dust and 175 female controls from water bottling factories were included. The symptoms were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Personal total dust exposure and lung function tests were performed. Results: Hand pickers experienced a higher dust exposure, displayed a higher prevalence ratio for cough [prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.4 to 6.2] and work-related shortness of breath (PR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1 to 5.6), and had a lower FEF25–75 than controls. Hand pickers without tables had a significantly higher prevalence ratio of cough with sputum (PR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.6 to 9.5) and lower forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the FVC than hand pickers with tables. Conclusion: Hand pickers show a range of adverse symptoms and lung function impairments that warrant efforts to improve working conditions.publishedVersio

Sleep medication and melatonin use among Norwegian nurses – A cross-sectional study

Aim To estimate the prevalence of sleep medication and melatonin use among nurses and to assess if factors related to work, sleep or mental health, were associated with such use. Design A cross-sectional study. Methods A questionnaire survey including 2,798 Norwegian nurses. Associations were estimated using a modified Poisson regression model. Results In total, 7.5%, 4.6% and 2.0% of the nurses included in the present study reported prescribed sleep medication, over-the-counter sleep medication or melatonin use in the last year, respectively. Short sleep duration, sleep problems and psychological conditions were strongly associated with both prescribed and over-the-counter sleep medication use. Nurses who worked more than 60 night shifts in the last year were at increased risk of sleep medication use.publishedVersio

A shift to something better? A longitudinal study of work schedule and prescribed sleep medication use in nurses

Objectives To explore whether a change in work schedule was associated with a change in the probability of prescribed sleep medication use. Methods A longitudinal study with annual questionnaire data (2008/2009–2021, except 2019) on work schedule (day work only, shift work without nights and shift work with nights) and prescribed sleep medication use from 2028 Norwegian nurses (mean age 31.7 years, 90.5% women at baseline) who participated in the ongoing Survey of Shift work, Sleep and Health (SUSSH). Associations were estimated using a random effects model, and a fixed effects regression model in which nurses were included as their own control to account for potential unobserved confounding. Results In both models, day work was associated with a more than 50% lower probability of sleep medication use compared with shift work with nights (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.50, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.93 in the random effects model, and an aOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.70 in the fixed effects regression model). Shift work without nights was associated with a non-statistically significant reduction in sleep medication use within nurses in the fixed effects regression model when compared with shift work with nights (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.20). Conclusions Day work was associated with a significant reduced probability of prescribed sleep medication use compared with shift work with nights. This indicates that quitting night work will improve sleep and thereby reduce hypnotic use.publishedVersio

Utilization of Norwegian crisis shelters before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The measures introduced to control the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and physical distancing, exerted considerable influence on society. Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine (1) the prevalence of people seeking Norwegian crisis shelters for domestic violence during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) compared to the year before, (2) the demography and type of violence among first-time visitors and (3) to compare the utilization of the crisis shelters and characteristics of the users between shelters in the capital and the other shelters throughout Norway. Design: Observational study. Method: The study was based on data from each crisis shelter in 2019 and 2020. Comparison between the 2 years were based on corresponding periods (12 March until 31 December) and analysed with t-test and chi-square tests. Results: Total use of crises centres, residential stays and daytime visits were lower during the pandemic (n = 7102) compared to the pre-pandemic period (n = 11 814). There was a shift from daytime visits to phone contacts when the restrictions were established. There was a higher proportion of residential stays versus daytime visits during the pandemic (21.5%) compared to the pre-pandemic period (15.4%) (p ⩽ 0.001). The proportion of first-time users was higher during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic period both for residents (52.4% vs 47.1%) and daytime visitors (10.9% vs 9.0%). Among first-time crisis shelter residents during the pandemic period, fewer reported having children at home compared to the pre-pandemic period. The background of the crisis-shelter users did not differ between the capital and rest of Norway, but the capital had relatively more residents with psychological violence and threats during the pandemic. Conclusion: The utilization of Norwegian crisis shelters, especially daytime visits was lower during the pandemic. There was a shift in daytime contacts from visits to phone contact at the pandemic outbreak. To ensure that information about available crisis shelters reaches the total population, these shelters should be prepared for a higher volume of phone contacts in a future pandemic situation.publishedVersio